But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

God In Our Deficiency

The entire bible is a story of an amazing God loving, working through, and blessing ordinary people. He in his amazing mind thought us up and decided that not only did he want to create people but he wanted a personal relationship with them. These people, because of sin, were very fickle and had a short attention span so God had to come up with some solutions.

God is an equal opportunist, grace levels the playing field. His willingness to wash away sin with the blood of his son gives a chance to the world in its entirety. (See John 3:16) It’s amazing to know that when I feel like I’ve messed up I will not be turned away, but he welcomes me back with open arms.

Though out the book of Isaiah we see how people repeatedly broke God’s heart and he was angry but for a moment but still told them, “if you will turn to me and from your wicked ways I will have mercy on you.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)

It is no longer a matter of what you look like, how long you’ve been saved, where you were before you got saved, who you know, where you grew up, or what environment you were raised in. God says, “I will take them all!”

Make sure no outsider who now follows God ever has occasion to say, ‘ God put me in second-class. I don’t really belong.’ And make sure no physically mutilated person is ever made to think, ‘I’m damaged goods. I don’t really belong.’”

For God says: “To the mutilated who keep my Sabbaths and choose what delights me and keep a firm grip on my covenant, I’ll provide them an honored place in my family and within my city, even more honored than that of sons and daughters. I’ll confer permanent honors on them that will never be revoked. “And as for the outsiders who now follow me, working for me, loving my name, and wanting to be my servants— All who keep Sabbath and don’t defile it, holding fast to my covenant— I’ll bring them to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. They’ll be welcome to worship the same as the ‘insiders,’ to bring burnt offerings and sacrifices to my altar. Oh yes, my house of worship will be known as a house of prayer for all people.” The Decree of the Master, God himself, who gathers in the exiles of Israel: “I will gather others also, gather them in with those already gathered.”
Isaiah 56:2‭-‬8 MSG

Moses, one of the most influential men in the bible, admitted his deficiency to God and allowed God to fill in what he was missing. The result of Moses’ obedience moved a nation from slavery.

Moses raised another objection to God : “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.” God said, “And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God ? So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.” He said, “Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!” God got angry with Moses: “Don’t you have a brother, Aaron the Levite? He’s good with words, I know he is. He speaks very well. In fact, at this very moment he’s on his way to meet you. When he sees you he’s going to be glad. You’ll speak to him and tell him what to say. I’ll be right there with you as you speak and with him as he speaks, teaching you step by step. He will speak to the people for you. He’ll act as your mouth, but you’ll decide what comes out of it. Now take this staff in your hand; you’ll use it to do the signs.”
Exodus 4:10‭-‬17 MSG

For all of the goodness it makes me wonder why God chooses to deal with a fallen humanity. The answer is pure love, the definition of who God is.

But out of the sheer goodness of my heart, because of who I am, I keep a tight rein on my anger and hold my temper. I don’t wash my hands of you. Do you see what I’ve done? I’ve refined you, but not without fire. I’ve tested you like silver in the furnace of affliction. Out of myself, simply because of who I am, I do what I do. I have my reputation to keep up. I’m not playing second fiddle to either gods or people.

Isaiah 48:11 MSG

God is not deterred by our weakness. He does not turn away from us even when we are in sin, but calls to us to enjoy him and allow him to bless us.